Dosing container for repeatedly withdrawing flowable administration products used in healthcare

ABSTRACT

A dosing container ( 1 ) made of transparent material which is useful for the multiple removal of a free-flowing application product for a subject animal or human health, having a filling section ( 6 ) which is of a constant cross section over its filling height ( 3 ), and having adjustably secured to the container a dosing slide ( 10, 23 ) having a scale ( 11, 22 ), which slide can be adjusted over the filling height ( 3 ) of the container ( 5 ), and which can be set at the beginning of a treatment to a filling height ( 15 ) indicated by a scale value ( 14 ) corresponding to the body weight of the subject to be treated and which setting reaches filling height  16  corresponding to the scale value zero ( 12 ) at the end of a treatment.

The invention relates to a dosing container made of transparent materialfor the multiple removal of free-flowing application products for animalor human health, having a filling cross section which is constant overthe entire filling height provided.

In many application products, in particular for animal health, e.g. inmedication for animals or in products for controlling parasites, thequantity which is to be administered or the volume per treatment isdependent on the body weight of the animal which is to be treated. It isalso possible for this body weight to vary greatly within the samespecies, for example in dogs. For the respective animal owner, thismeans that it is necessary to remove from a product container preciselythe product volume which is correct for his animal, for which purposethe product manufacturer has usually produced instructions forapplication and enclosed these in the pack.

With free-flowing, i.e. liquid to slightly pasty, preparations which areto be administered orally, or with pulverulent to granular preparations,a measuring beaker or measuring spoon is usually included in thecontainer or the pack. The disadvantage here is that the necessarymeasuring vessel is enclosed in loose form. Screw caps with a dosingscale cannot be used in all cases and, moreover, have the disadvantagethat they only have a small volume, and that they require some skill tofill. Containers for liquid products often have a measuring scaleprinted thereon or impressed therein, said scale making a dosingoperation possible by comparison with the respective filling level.

With spray preparations, use is made, inter alia, of the conventionalspray containers with hand-actuatable spray pump. The dosing operation,however, poses problems. The manufacturer can indeed determine a certaindisplacement volume for each spray stroke, and this is given in tableform for the treatment per kg of body weight. However, once the user hasread from the table the necessary number of strokes in accordance withthe weight of his animal, he has to count the strokes precisely duringeach application. For example, with a treatment volume of 50 ml and adelivery of 1 ml per spray stroke, 50 strokes would be necessary. Withsuch large product quantities which are to be sprayed on, this isunreasonable for the user and may easily result, by way of miscounting,in imprecise metering operations.

The object is to provide, for the multiple removal of free-flowingapplication products for human or animal health, a dosing containerwhich can be easily handled and can carry out a sufficiently precisemetering operation, the associated outlay being in a favourableproportion to the benefits.

This object is achieved by a dosing slide which is provided with ascale, can be adjusted over the entire filling height of said dosingcontainer, is retained on said dosing container by clamping action andcan be set to the current filling height by a certain scale value.

Obviously, for a precise determination of the treatment volume, thedosing container has to be located in the vertical position at thebeginning and end of the treatment.

It is advantageous here that, once the scale value has been set by meansof the dosing slide in the vertical position of said dosing container,it is possible to dose application product until the filling height hasdropped to the zero value of the scale in the vertical position of thedosing container. In addition to the sufficiently free-flowingapplication products, the novel dosing container is suitable, inparticular, for liquid application products.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is advantageous for the scale ofthe dosing slide to extend from a zero value to at least the maximumconventional body weight of the subject (animal or human) which is to betreated, and for the scale to be coordinated with theapplication-product volume which is to be dosed per kilogram of bodyweight of the subject which is to be treated, it being possible for thescale value corresponding to the current body weight of the subjectwhich is to be treated to be set to the filling height in the dosingregion in the vertical position of the dosing container, and the zerovalue of the scale indicating, in the vertical position of the dosingcontainer, the filling height remaining following the treatment of thesubject.

It goes without saying that the novel idea also covers the inverse case,i.e. where the scale runs vertically downwards from a zero value. Inthis case, by means of the dosing slide, the zero value of the scale isset to the initial filling height of the dosing container and the dosingoperation then takes place until in the vertical position of the dosingcontainer, with the new filling height which is lower by the treatmentvolume, the scale value corresponding to the body weight of the subjectwhich is to be treated has been reached. The disadvantage here, however,is that it is constantly necessary to look for said scale value, or thelatter has to be marked beforehand. In contrast, in the normalembodiment, the zero value of the scale can always be seen clearly asthe mark for the remaining filling height.

According to a specific embodiment, the novel dosing container ischaracterized by in each case one vertical guide rail on each side foran engaging clamping runner arranged on the dosing slide.

This achieves the situation where the, for example, flank-like orclamp-like clamping runners of the dosing slide subject the dosingcontainer to a clamping action in the direction transverse to saidcontainer. The design as a flat or narrow dosing container fits in wellwith the arrangement of guide rails with a corresponding configurationof the dosing slide. However, it is also possible for the clampingaction to take place in the direction of the flat or broad sides of thedosing container.

It should, obviously, be ensured that the clamping action is of thecorrect magnitude. If it is too low, the dosing slide slips undesirablyof its own accord; if it is too firm, the dosing slide can only beadjusted with difficulty, if at all. Since both the dosing container andthe dosing slide usually consist of plastic, for example polyethylene,at least one of the two parts may be designed with the necessaryelasticity.

The dosing slide preferably consists of transparent material.

This has the advantage that the specific scale value can be better setto the current filling height in the vertical position of the dosingcontainer. If the scale runs on both sides of the dosing slide, or iftwo identical scales are located precisely opposite one another, thenthe specific scale value can be set particularly well to the currentfilling height by the dosing slide by the marks corresponding to thescale value being made to coincide.

According to a specific embodiment, the dosing container comprises aspray container.

It has been found that the novel dosing container is particularlysuitable for spray application, that is to say in particular for thetreatment of animals infested with parasites.

The scale of the dosing slide usually runs linearly, i.e. the graduationof the scale has identically sized scale values, with the result thatthe spacing between two scale values always corresponds to the samemetering volume.

According to an advantageous variant, however, the scale of the dosingslide has a scale graduation which changes over its length.

This is advantageous if light and heavy subjects of the same species orof different species are to be administered different dosing quantitiesper kilogram of body weight. This means that the spacing between scalemarks in the bottom scale region differs from that in the top scaleregion, the transition usually being continuous.

Accordingly, on account of empirical determinations, it is possible forthe scale to run, for example, in accordance with a potential orexponential function or a logarithmic function, with the result thatsubjects of the same species with a low body weight, for example lapdogs, are assigned either a larger or smaller dosing volume per kilogramof body weight than subjects with a higher body weight, for examplemastiffs. The novel dosing container can thus be used over a relativelylarge range.

The dosing slide can preferably be exchanged for one in which the scalehas a different graduation.

It is thus possible, at least theoretically, to use the same dosingcontainer for different application products and application cases. Theexchangeability does not pose any problems since the material of thedosing container and/or dosing slide is usually sufficiently elastic.

According to a further specific embodiment, the dosing slide has aplurality of scales with different graduations.

It is thus the case that in each case one scale is arranged, forexample, on each flank of the dosing slide, it being possible for one ofsaid scales to be used, for example, for the treatment of dogs and theother to be used for the treatment of cats, that is to say, as it was,one of the scales is arranged on the front side, and the other isarranged on the rear side, of the dosing slide. With the sameapplication product for different species, the user advantageouslyrequires just a single dosing container for these two species.

The novel dosing container is illustrated purely schematically in theform of a spray container in an exemplary embodiment and is explained inmore detail hereinbelow. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows the spray container in side view, FIG. 2 shows the spraycontainer in accordance with section A-B in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows adosing slide with a specific scale graduation in side view.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the spray container 1 has a commercially availablespray head 2 screwed on it. The overall filling height 3 corresponds tothe height 4 of the actual filling container 5, which has the samefilling cross section 6 throughout and is adjoined, in the direction ofthe spray head 2, by a neck 7. The actual filling container 5 hasvertically running guide rails 8 on both sides, clamping runners 9 of adosing slide 10 consisting of transparent material engaging in saidguide rails. Said dosing slide 10 is provided with a scale 11 which iscoordinated with a dosing quantity per kilogram of body weight of theanimal which is to be treated, in that the scale marks indicate thebody-weight range of the species which is to be treated. The scale 11runs upwards from a zero value 12 and extends, in a linear graduation13, to what experience has shown as being the maximum body weight of thespecies which is to be treated. The current body weight of the animalwhich is to be treated can be read as scale value 14 from the scale 11,and this can be set to the level of the current filling height 15 bymeans of the dosing slide 11 in the vertical position of the spraycontainer 1. The treatment may then be carried out and is to be broughtto an end as soon as the new filling height 16 has been reached, saidnew filling height corresponding to the level of the zero value 12 inthe vertical position of the spray container 1 and with the position ofthe dosing slide 10 unchanged. This application-product treatment volume17 thus corresponds to the filling-volume difference between the zerovalue 12 and the scale value 14 corresponding to the body weight of theanimal. Arranged on the rear side of the dosing slide 10 is a secondscale 11, of which the graduation has a smaller spacing between marksand which is provided for the treatment of a different species. Thisobviously presupposes that, on the one hand, the application productlocated in the spray container 1 has to be suitable for both species andthat, on the other hand, different dosing quantities have beenprescribed per kilogram of body weight of the two species of animal. Theuser may then select the associated scale in accordance with thespecies.

In FIG. 3, the graduation 21 of the scale 22 of the dosing slide 23changes over its length. From the zero value 24 upwards, the spacingbetween marks increases continuously, that is to say smaller animals, inrelative terms, of the same species are assigned a smaller dosing volumeper kilogram of body weight than the larger animals. Of course, it isalso possible for the spacing between marks to decrease upwards should asmaller dosing quantity be prescribed for larger animals. This need notbe illustrated specifically.

What is claimed is:
 1. Dosing container (1) made of transparent materialfor the multiple removal of a free-flowing application product for asubject animal or human health, having a filling section (6) which is ofa constant cross section over its filling height (3) and havingadjustably secured to the container a dosing slide (10, 23) which isprovided with a scale (11, 22), which can be adjusted over the fillingheight (3) of the container (5) and which can be set to a filling height(15) by a scale value (14).
 2. Dosing container according to claim 1,characterized in that the scale (11, 22) of the dosing slide (10, 23)extends from a zero value (12, 24) to a maximum conventional body weightof the subject which is to be treated, and in that the scale (11, 22) Iscoordinated with a volume of the application-product which is to bedosed per kilogram of body weight of the subject which, is to betreated, wherein the scale value (14) corresponding to the body weightof the subject which is to be treated is settable to the filling height(15) in the dosing container (1) in the vertical position of the dosingcontainer (1), and the zero value (12, 24) of the scale indicating, inthe vertical position of the dosing container (1), the filling height(16) remaining following the treatment of the subject.
 3. Dosingcontainer according to claim 1, characterized by a vertical guide rail(8) on each side for engaging guide runners (9) arranged on the dosingslide (10).
 4. Dosing container according to claim 1, characterized inthat the dosing slide (10, 23) consists of transparent material. 5.Dosing container according to claim 1, characterized in that itcomprises a spray container (1).
 6. Dosing container according to claim1, characterized by the scale (22) of the dosing slide (23) having agraduation (21) which changes over its length.
 7. Dosing containeraccording to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing slide (10, 23)can be exchanged for one in which the scale (11, 22) has a differentgraduation (13, 21).
 8. Dosing container according to claim 1,characterized in that the dosing slide (10) has a plurality of differentscales (11, 22).
 9. Dosing container according to claim 2, characterizedby a vertical guide rail (8) on each side for engaging guide runners (9)arranged on the dosing slide (10).
 10. Dosing container according toclaim 2, characterized in that the dosing slide (10, 23) consists oftransparent material.
 11. Dosing container according to claim 3,characterized in that the dosing slide (10, 23) consists of transparentmaterial.
 12. Dosing container according to claim 2, characterized inthat it comprises a spray container.
 13. Dosing container according toclaim 3, characterized in that it comprises a spray container. 14.Dosing container according to claim 4, characterized in that itcomprises a spray container.
 15. Dosing container according to claim 2,characterized by the scale (22) of the dosing slide (23) having agraduation (21) which changes over its length.
 16. Dosing containeraccording to claim 3, characterized by the scale (22) of the dosingslide (23) having a graduation (21) which changes over its length. 17.Dosing container according to claim 4, characterized by the scale (22)of the dosing slide (23) having a graduation (21) which changes over itslength.
 18. Dosing container according to claim 5, characterized by thescale (22) of the dosing slide (23) having a graduation (21) whichchanges over its length.
 19. Dosing container according to claim 2,characterized in that the dosing slide (10, 23) can be exchanged for onein which the scale (11, 22) has a different graduation (13, 21). 20.Dosing container according to claim 3, characterized in that the dosingslide (10, 23) can be exchanged for one in which the scale (11, 22) hasa different graduation (13, 21).
 21. Dosing container according to claim4, characterized in that the dosing slide (10, 23) can be exchanged forone in which the scale (11, 22) has a different graduation (13, 21). 22.Dosing container according to claim 5, characterized in that the dosingslide (10, 23) can be exchanged for one in which the scale (11, 22) hasa different graduation (13, 21).
 23. Dosing container according to claim6, characterized in that the dosing slide (10, 23) can be exchanged forone in which the scale (11, 22) has a different graduation (13, 21). 24.Dosing container according to claim 2, characterized in that the dosingslide (10) has a plurality of different scales (11, 22).
 25. Dosingcontainer according to claim 3, characterized in that the dosing slide(10) has a plurality of different scales (11, 22).
 26. Dosing containeraccording to claim 4, characterized in that the dosing slide (10) has aplurality of different scales (11, 22).
 27. Dosing container accordingto claim 5, characterized in that the dosing slide (10) has a pluralityof different scales (11, 22).
 28. Dosing container according to claim 6,characterized in that the dosing slide (10) has a plurality of differentscales (11, 22).
 29. Dosing container according to claim 7,characterized in that the dosing slide (10) has a plurality of differentscales (11, 22).